Nicaragua 8

Left Jinotega in the morning. Piled suitcases into a car and headed out with the rest of the bags, down a muddy street through construction while men whistled and women and children and dogs stared. Drove down through the gorgeous mountains to Managua. We went to Tiptop Chicken (our KFC). We then drove to the market, I still try to take in every shop, every poverty stricken home, every vendor, every person. I'm in love with this place. The market was filled with dozens of trinkets. We all stop by the hammock shop. We bought 10-15 hammocks, the man laughed as he tried hard to keep up with all of us. He smiled ear to ear as we all left him panting in his shop. While choosing hammocks a robbery took place at the other end of the market, men went running, trying to find out what exactly was happening. We walked around the market buying bracelets and small trinkets to take home to family and friends. Even though it rained, the market was still sweltering, we would stop in shops just for the fan that every shop owner had. We then headed to the best western hotel. We had our last dinner as a team, soaked our dirty feet in the pool, and made videos. After dinner I decided to take a shower, rumor had it that the shower had warm water. I crossed my fingers only to find it slightly warmer than the showers in the orphanages. To me though, it was wonderful. Suddenly it hit me. This was a different world than I was from. A world where toilet paper goes into trashcans because the pipe can't handle it. Waste fills the lakes, and trash spills down the sides of mountains. But for some reason it was the water bottle on the bathroom counter that got me crying. The water bottle placed faithfully each day, because the tap water was filled with amoebas. A world that American would shudder at living in. A different world of beauty and grace. A world I love and admire. This is the world God called me to. This is the world my heart longs for. A simple life, but a life overflowing with meaning. A world glorifying God from the depths of poverty with joy and laughter and smiles. A world I miss.